Door latching device



Feb 7, 1950 c, ox

DOOR LATCHING DEVICE Filed Jan. 13, 1949 ENE.

INVENTOR CHARLES Aom Fox ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 7, 1950 'U N I TED "S TAT-ES PATENT OFF I CE DOOR IJATCHING "DEVICE -Charles Adin Fox, Oakland Village,:M0. --Application tlanuary- 13, 1949, Serial N097 0,713

'-,8-Claims. (01. 2921-227) This invention relates generally to latching-devices and more specifically to'latching'devices for cabinets and the like which-are of the' ty'pe operated to the unlatched position by pushbuttons that project from knobsadaptedfor'nse in moving the doors of-the cabinets to open and closedpositions, the predominant object of the invention bein to provide a latching device of the'type referred to above which is of extremely simple construction and arrangement and which, because of its improved constru-oti'omds capable of performing its intended iunc'tion in an improved and highly'eiiicient manner.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational-viewshowing the improved latching device in association with a cabinet or other structure.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken online 2-2 of Fig. 1 with th latching device shown in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section' similar to Fig 2 but showing the latching 'devlce largely,in: sec- 'tion.

Fig. is a'horizontal section similar to Fig. 3 but with the latching device shownlinits nunlatched position.

Fig.5 is a iragmentarysection"taken online 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a z'partiof'the improved latching device a of this invention.

In the drawing, wherein is shown forpurposes of illustration, merely, 'one embodiment of this invention, A designates the improved :latching device generally. In order to provide for aicomplete understandin of the invention'ithe proved latching device is. illustrated inthe-tdr'awing in association with a:structurethat -includes a housingportion B and a door:C,-.it beingiunderstood that such structurermay besany one of a great variety of structures'into the interiorsof which access may be had throughzdoor openings closed by'movable doors, or other closurermembers. The improved latching device Aincludes an elongated tubular member I which is extended through an opening i formedthrough the door C'with which the latching .deviceis associated, the outer portion of the tubular member being extended outwardly beyond the outer face of the door, as is shown to good advantage .inFigs. 3 and 4. Also, the tubular member! is=provided with external screwthreads which throughout a considerable portionzofthe length thereof and to the outer end :of said tubular member.

:eXlieIId f.

split longitudinally from theainner end thereof 5.

2 a: distance inwardly of said tubularimemben and said split -end portion of said tubular member is :shaped'to provide a bifurcated portion 2 having:spaced legs-2,--as is shown to good advantage in Fig.5. Mounted on the-bifurcated -end portion -z of thetubular member l is a hollo'w element -3 which serves as :a combined housing and latching element, said element 3 receiving therewithin said bifurcated end. portion 2, and 3 said element .:3 :being -pivotally '':connected to said bifurcatedendi-portion :2 of said tubular member by a .pivot 1 pin '4 ".whichextends through alined apertures formed .through" opposed side walls :of the element -3 and through the spacedlegsfll .of saidsbifurcated "end: portion-of the tubularmemberl. The element .;3 is shaped as is 'shownuto good advantage in Fig.*6;ithat is'to say, saidielement isLprov-ided with opposedsidewalls 53a, whicheare the :side walls referred toaabove as :being rapertuned to receiveiportions ofthe pivotsp'in 4,"and said element :3 E is provided with a marginal-wall 3b which is shaped as is shown to good advantage in Figs. 2, -3,-a'nd-=4. Also, a torsional coil: spring 5 iscoiled about the. pivot pin-:4, one end portion ofsaid coil spring being arranged in contact with the inner face of the wall=3bof the element "3, while the opposite end 'portionof said torsional coil spring contacts with an upperfportion-of the inner face of the tubular member I. Because of the arrangement of the torsionalcoil-spri'ng :5

"as described above,:the element 3 isqurged byesaid coil spring. in the direction indicated by the arrow inFig. .2.

.ing --a "tapered, tubular extension :1 which :is

seated in an end portion oftheopening I" formed "through the door C. -Extendedzthrough the tubular-member Ids-an operating element 8=which is preferably in the iorm of -alen gth of rod, or relatively rigid wire, said operatingelement be .ingtbent at its inner end asisindicatedzatflain Figs. 3 and 4. and the outer portion B-b-of said bent portion 8a; is extended through an aperture to which is formed 1 through the marginal wa'll E-3-bof the elements. .The opening 5a through .the .knob "6 is of slightly:greaterzdiameteniat 'thze fouter portion 'ofsaidzlmob andthisxenlarged open- .ing portion 15b receives a push button-9; saidepush button being provided with an opening 9' formed longitudinally thereof which frictionally receives an outer end portion of the operating element 8.

The housing portion B, shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, is provided with a keeper H) which is formed from a strip of material bent as illustrated in the views referred to above, said keeper comprising a leg portion Illa which is arranged in contact with the rear face of the housing portion B, a leg [b which is arranged in contact with an edge of said housing portion B that defines a part of a door opening which is closed by the door C, and a bent double, rearwardly extended portion 100. The keeper I0 is secured to the housing portion B by suitable fastening elements H which extend through apertures formed through the legs Illa and lb of said keeper and into th housing portion B.

The task of installing the improved latching device of this invention in association with a door is extremely simple and is accomplished without the use of screws or other fastening devices frequently employed for securing latching devices in place. In other words; the installation of the latching device is accomplished by first forming the opening I through the door, and by passing the tubular member I through said opening. The knob 6 is then screwed inwardly on the outwardly extended forward portion of the tubular member 1 until the inner end face of the knob contacts the outer face of the door after which the knob is rotated additionally so as to cause the tapered, tubular extension I of the nut 1 to be drawn into the end portion of the opening I of the door and to cause the nut 1 to contact with the inner face of the door. The element 3 is then held by one hand and the push button 9 is forced onto the outer end portion of the operating element 8 within the opening portion 6b of the knob 6 so as to provide tight frictional engagement between the end portion of the operating element and the push button.

When the keeper ID has been installed in an obvious manner the latching device is ready for use, and when in such use the door C is moved toward its closed position a portion of the curved outer face'of the wall 3b of the element 3 will contact with the outer end portion of the leg Nb of the keeper ID with the result that said element I 3 will be rotated about the pivot pin 4 in the reverse direction to that indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. When the door reaches its fully closed position the torsional coil spring 5 moves the element 3 to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 3 where it overlaps the portion I00 of the keeper so as to latch the door in its closed position. When it is desired to unlatch the door the knob is grasped by certain fingers of the hand and the push button is moved inwardly by the thumb of the same hand with the result that the element 3 will be moved to the position in which said element is shown in Fig. 4 to permit the door to be drawn open. It is to be noted 'that the portion Inc of the keeper Ill may be conveniently bent slightly with the aid of a pliers, when this is necessary, so as to cause the 'element 3 to properly engage said keeper portion lUc when the door is latched.

It is to be noted that the center of the radius 'of the forward curved portion of the element 3 is not located at the pivot 4 but, instead, such radius is shorter at the right-hand end thereof, as said element is illustrated in Fig. 2, than at the opposite end of said radius.

Because of this 5 arrangement a tightening effect is produced when the element 3 swings in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2 under the influence of the torsional coil spring 5 and with respect to the portion of the keeper I 0, which causes the door C to be drawn to a tightly closed position relative to the housing portion C so as to eliminate rattling of the door.

I claim:

1. A latching device comprising a tubular member adapted to be extended through an opening formed through a door, said tubular member being of such length as to cause an inner portion thereof to be extended inwardly of a door with which said tubular member is associated and to cause an outer portion thereof to be extended outwardly of such a door, a knob mounted on said outer portion of said tubular member, a hollow latching element which embraces said inner portion of said tubular member, means for pivotally connecting said latching element to said inner portion of said tubular member, an operating element connected to said latching element and extended through said tubular member, and a push button supported by said knob and connected to said operating element.

2. ,A latching device comprising a tubular member adapted to be extended through an opening formed through a door, said tubular member being of such length as to cause an inner portion thereof to be extended inwardly of a door with which said tubular member is associated and to cause an outer portion thereof to be extended outwardly of such a door, a knob mounted on said outer portion of said tubular member, a hollow latching element which embraces said inner portion of said tubular member, means for pivotally connecting said latching element to said inner portion of said tubular member, spring means which tends to rotate said latching element in one direction, an operating element connected to said latching element and. extended through said tubular member, and a push button supported by said knob and connected to said operating element.

3. A latching device comprising a tubular member adapted to be extended through an opening formed through a door, said tubular member being of such length as to cause an inner portion thereof to be extended inwardly of a door with which said tubular member is associated and to cause an outer portion thereof to be extended outwardly of such a door, a knob mounted on said outer portion of said tubular member, a hollow latching element which embraces said inner portion of said tubular member, means for pivotally connecting said latching element to said inner portion of said tubular member, torsional spring means which tends to rotate said latching element in one direction,an operating element connected to said latching element and extended through said tubular member, and a push button supported by said knob and connected to said operating element.

4. A latching device comprising a tubular member adapted to be extended through an opening formed through a door and having a bifurcated inner end portion which is adapted to extend inwardly of a door with which said tubular member is associated and an outer portion which is .adapted to extend outwardly of such a door, a

knob mounted on said outer portion of said tubular member, a hollow latching element which embraces said bifurcated inner portion of said tubular member, means for pivotally connecting said is associated and an outer portion which is 1 adapted to extend outwardly of such a door, a knob mounted on said outer portion of said tubular member, a hollow latching element which embraces said bifurcated inner portion of said tubular member, means for pivotally connecting said latching element to said bifurcated inner portion of said tubular member, spring means which tends to rotate said latching element in one direction, an operating element connected to said latching element and extended through said tubular member, and a push button supported by said knob and connected to said operating element.

6. A latching device comprising a tubular member adapted to be extended through an opening formed through a door and having a bifurcated inner end portion which is adapted to extend inwardly of a door with which said tubular member is associated and an outer portion which is adapted to extend outwardly of such a door, a knob mounted on said outer portion of said tubular member, a hollow latching element which embraces said bifurcated inner portion of said tubular member, means for pivotally connecting said latching element to said bifurcated inner portion of said tubular member, torsional spring means Which tends to rotate said latching element in one direction, an operating element connected to said latching element and extended through said tubular member, and a push button supported by said knob and connected to said operating element.

'7. A latching device comprising a tubular member adapted to be extended through an opening formed through a door and having a bifurcated inner end portion which is adapted to extend inwardly of a door with which said tubular member is associated and an outer portion which is adapted to extend outwardly of such a door, a knob mounted on said outer portion of said tubular member, a hollow latching element which embraces said bifurcated inner portion of said tubular member, means comprising a pivot pin which extends through portions of said bifurcated portion of said tubular member and portions of said latching element for pivotally connecting said latching element to said bifurcated inner portion of said tubular member, spring means which tends to rotate said latching element in one direction, an operating element connected to said latching element and extended through said tubular member, and a push button supported by said knob and connected to said operating element.

8. A latching device comprising a tubular member adapted to be extended through an opening formed through a door and having a bifurcated inner end portion which is adapted to extend inwardly of a door with which said tubular member is associated and an outer portion which is adapted to extend outwardly of such a door, a knob mounted on said outer portion of said tubular member, an abutment element having a tapered portion which is mounted on said tubular member and is adapted to abut against a face of a door with which said tubular member is associated with said tapered portion thereof seated in an end portion of the opening of the door through which said tubular member extends, a hollow latching element which embraces said bifurcated inner portion of said tubular member, means for pivotally connecting said latching element to said bifurcated inner portion of said tubular member, an operating element connected to said latching element and extended through said tubular member, and a push button supported by said knob and connected to said operating element.

CHARLES ADIN FOX.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 201,655 Doremus Mar. 26, 1878 1,672,901 North June 12, 1928 1,954,500 Sparks Apr. 10, 1934 2,029,197 Roedding Jan. 28, 1936 2,331,115 Fox Oct. 5, 1943 

